Page 9 of While You're There
“Hey,” he offered timidly once she was within earshot.
“Hi,” she replied curtly. She was dressed up for graduation in a pale pink strapless dress and matching open-toed heels. It was supposed to be a joyful, happy day for them both, but Rhett could tell just by her tone that she was seething. Her eyes scanned the parking lot around them, almost as if she was checking to see if anyone else could hear their conversation. She seemed to be looking everywhere but at him.
“How was graduation?” She was the one who’d insisted on meeting up, but he didn’t want to make this any more uncomfortable than it needed to be.He could be cordial.
“It was fine. Long, as expected. We took pictures by the fountain and are about to head out to eat. My parents keep asking about you. I haven’t told them that we’re not together anymore, so…”
Shit. Was this why she wanted to meet up with him? If Chandler hadn’t admitted to her parents that they were over, was she still hanging onto the illusion that there was a chance they would get back together?
“Chandler, listen. I’m sorry for how things ended. I know it probably seemed abrupt, but it really is over between us.”
“I know that,” she hissed as she wiped a stray tear from her cheek. “After almost two weeks of total silence from you, don’t you think I fucking know that?”
Rhett recoiled at her tone but still felt a subtle pull to take a step toward her. Part of him wanted to wrap her into a hug and comfort her. But he couldn’t do that. She might read too much into it, and he couldn’t give her any false hope about where things stood between them.
“So why did you text me? What did you want to talk about?”
She continued to avoid meeting his gaze as she smoothed her hands down the front of her dress.“Do you remember the weekend after you went to Virginia?”
The memory of that weekend was painful. He had gone to Virginia for a few days, then came back to school and stayed in town instead of going home even though it was Easter weekend. Tori and her dad had spent the day with his family while he went to Chandler’s parents’ house for dinner. He knew now that Tori’s scans had been the next day. He always made a point to be in town for her appointments, but they’d had a blow-up fight the month prior, and they weren’t even on speaking terms at the time. It would be a long time before he would forgive himself for not being in Hampton for Tori’s appointment.
“Rhett?” Chandler snapped.
“Yeah. Yeah, I remember. I didn’t go home to Hampton that weekend, and we went to your parents’ house for dinner.”
Chandler let out a gaff and moved her hands to her hips. “Right. You didn’t go home to Hampton toher.” The last word came out of her mouth like something vile. “Of course that’s what you remember about that weekend.”
“Hey,” he warned. His voice came out lower and harsher than he expected. “I don’t know what you thought you were going to accomplish today Chandler, but I’m not interested in rehashing the past with you in a parking lot. I didn’t agree to meet up with you just so you could disrespect my fiancée.”
Her entire body went rigid. He swore he heard her gasp.
Fuck. She obviously didn’t know he was engaged, and that was a really shitty way for her to find out. He hadn’t meant to rub his relationship with Tori in her face. But he also was done pretending that he wasn’t devoted to the love of his life.
“You’re engaged?” she deadpanned.
“Yeah, I am. Tori and I are engaged. Listen, Chandler… Fuck…” Rhett raked his hand through his hair, desperate to rewind the last ten seconds and take back the pain he had just caused. “I didn’t want you to find out like this. I know it probably seems rushed, but…”
“You’re engaged to the girl who you always swore was just a friend? You’re going to get married sometime in the next few years to your side piece back home after endingourthree-year relationship less than two weeks ago?”
Hell. No.
She didn't get to talk about Tori like that. She didn't get to have an opinion about his relationship at all.This ended now.
“Nope,” he declared defiantly. “I’m not going to marry my ‘side piece’ in a few years. I’m going to marry the love of my life at the end of this month.” He threw her words back at her like he was batting away a grenade.
Chandler teetered on her heels as his words landed exactly as he had intended.Good. Now she was getting it. This wasn’t a game. Not anymore. He was done playing with her. Hopefully this would be the last time he had to shut down Chandler Cunningham.
“Fuck you, Everhett. You almost had me fooled. I wanted so badly to believe that you would eventually grow up, that you could eventually move on. I should have known it would always end like this. Congratulations on your graduation. And your engagement. I left my key fob to the apartment on my hook in the entryway.”
Chandler turned on her heel and stalked off, her shoulders shaking in the undeniable tell that she was crying. Rhett felt a deep-seated guilt for the pain he had inflicted. He had no intention of hurting her when he agreed to meet up with her, but now the damage was done.
There was residual regret nudging at his conscious. He still wasn’t sure why she wanted to meet up with him in the first place. The only positive outcome from their encounter was that Chandler probably wouldn’t want to talk to him anytime soon. Or ever again.
He knew there was very little he could do to undo the pain he had caused. He had to accept that he had made a lot of wrong calls and stupid mistakes where Chandler was concerned, but that they had all lead him back to Tori. That was what mattered.
He grabbed his gown and cords from the trunk of the car, then strode with purpose to the front of campus. He was graduating with his Master’s degree today, and when he drove back to Hampton tonight, he was leaving with a degree, a fiancée, and the promise of the life he had always dreamed of.
Chapter five
